A de facto official instructs staff at a local radio station in Zaranj, the capital of Nimruz province, on March 25, 2025. Photo credit: MoIC.
April 10, 2025
Shiberghan, Qalat, Charikar - The de facto authorities of Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice has extended its ban on publishing images of living beings to the provinces of Jowzjan, Zabul, and Parwan, bringing the total number of affected provinces to 13. The Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC) expresses deep concern over this restriction, underscoring its detrimental impact on media operations and public access to information.
In Jowzjan, the de facto department of Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice issued a formal letter to the de facto governor, citing the ban based on the law of Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice. A copy obtained by AFJC confirms that the de facto governor of Jowzjan, Gul Haidar Shafaq, approved and signed the directive. Consequently, all de facto entities in the provincial capital, Shiberghan, and its 10 districts are required to refrain from photographing or filming living beings at public events and meetings. Non-compliance with this directive is classified as a serious offense. Two local journalists, who requested anonymity due to safety concerns, confirmed to AFJC that local media outlets were also verbally notified by the authorities to enforce the directive.
In Zabul province, a local source informed AFJC that media outlets were verbally notified of the ban on March 28. However, due to its coinciding with the holy month of Ramadan, the authorities met with media representatives after Ramadan, urging them to comply with the order. A journalist in the province reported that the provincial branch of the state-owned TV (RTA) has ceased operations and shifted to radio. Another local journalist noted that while private media have not yet faced strict enforcement, they are experiencing increasing pressure.
In Parwan, journalists were summoned on April 10, 2025, by the de facto department of Information and Culture, where the ban was reiterated by a representative of the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice. A journalist in the province confirmed to AFJC that the provincial branch of state-owned TV has halted operations as of April 10.
Since the publication of the law of Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice in August 2024, the ban has been implemented in 10 of Afghanistan's 34 provinces, including Kandahar, Takhar, Badghis, Helmand, Nangarhar, Nooristan, Farah, Badakhshan, Baghlan, and Nimruz. While there have been minor relaxations in some areas, a source in Kabul said the leader of the de facto, Mullah Hibatullah insists on strict enforcement nationwide. Article 17 of the law of Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice mandates that morality police prevent the publication of images of living beings.
AFJC is alarmed by the expansion of the ban to Jowzjan, Zabul, and Parwan, asserting that such restrictions violate freedom of expression, access to information, and Afghanistan's media laws. AFJC emphasizes that these limitations hinder the flow of information and have led to the closure of media outlets, resulting in significant job losses for journalists.
AFJC calls upon the de facto decision-makers in Kandahar and the Ministry of Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice to revoke the ban on publishing images and recent media directives that contradict media law. It is imperative to allow media outlets to operate freely and enable journalists to work without fear.